Contents distribution system, contents distribution method, and computer-readable storage medium therefor

Abstract

A contents distribution system includes: a distributing server storing broadcast program data including to-be-distributed contents; a distributing-site apparatus receiving the broadcast program data, the distributing-site apparatus comprising a configuration setting file for a display apparatus and/or an external source controlled by the distributing-site apparatus; and a control server providing a unit controlling the distributing-site apparatus over a communication line. In an execution routine of a broadcast program schedule, when a control request for requesting for controlling the display apparatus and/or the external source which is a subject to be controlled, the configuration setting file is interpreted. URL constructed with a character sequence representing a logical configuration is generated from the interpreted configuration setting file. A Web browser is operated to access to the control server to acquire a control I/F component. The display apparatus and/or external source is controlled to reproduce the received broadcast program data.

1 . A contents distribution system comprising: 
 a distributing server storing broadcast program data including to-be-distributed contents, the broadcast program data comprising a broadcast program schedule;    a distributing-site apparatus receiving the broadcast program data, the distributing-site apparatus comprising at least one file of a first configuration setting file for a display apparatus and a second configuration setting file for an external source, at least one file of the first and second configuration setting files being controlled by the distributing-site apparatus; and    a control server providing a unit controlling the distributing-site apparatus over a communication line,    wherein in an execution routine of the broadcast program schedule, when a control request for requesting for controlling at least one of the display apparatus and the external source which is a subject to be controlled,    at least one file of the first and second configuration setting files is interpreted,    Uniform Resource Locator (URL) constructed with a character sequence representing a logical configuration is generated from the at least one interpreted file of the first and second configuration setting files,    a Web browser is operated to access to the control server to acquire a control I/F component, and    the at least one of the display apparatus and the external source is controlled to reproduce the received broadcast program data.    
   
   
       2 . A contents distribution method for a contents distribution system connecting a distributing server which stores broadcast program data including to-be-distributed contents, a distributing-site apparatus which receives the broadcast program data, and a control server which controls the distributing-site apparatus over a communication line, the method comprising: 
 storing in the distributing-site apparatus at least one file of a first configuration file for a display apparatus and a second configuration file for an external source, the at least one file of the first and second device configuration file being controlled by the distributing-site apparatus;    interpreting the at least one file of the first and second configuration setting files and generating from the at least one file of the first and second configuration setting files URL constructed with a character sequence representing a logical configuration, in an execution routine of a broadcast program schedule included in the broadcast program data, when a control request for controlling at least one of the display apparatus and the external source which is a subject to be controlled, is acquired;    operating a Web browser to access to the control server to acquire a control I/F component; and    controlling at least one of the display apparatus and the external source by the acquired control I/F component.    
   
   
       3 . A storage medium readable by a computer, the storage medium storing a program of instructions executable by the computer of at least one of the control server and the distributing-site apparatus to perform a function for a contents distribution system connecting a distributing server which stores broadcast program data including to-be-distributed contents, a distributing-site apparatus which receives the broadcast program data, and the control server which controls the distributing-site apparatus over a communication line, the function, comprising: 
 storing in the distributing-site apparatus a configuration setting file describing at least one of a configuration of a display apparatus and a configuration of an external source, at least one of the display apparatus and the external source being controlled by the distributing-site apparatus;    interpreting the configuration setting file and generating from the at least one of the first and second device configuration files URL constructed with a character sequence representing a logical configuration, in an execution routine of a broadcast program schedule included in the broadcast program data, when a control request for controlling at least one of the display apparatus and the external source is acquired;    operating a Web browser to access to the control server to acquire a control I/F component; and    controlling at least one of the display apparatus and the external source by the acquired control I/F component.    
   
   
       4 . A storage medium readable by a computer, according to  claim 3 , wherein the URL has a configuration of “http://server_name/controlled_device_name/request_name.html?parameter . . . ”.  
   
   
       5 . The contents distribution system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first configuration setting file for a display apparatus and the second configuration setting file for an external source is configured by one configuration setting file.